Observation device



1936. c. E. WHEELER OBSERVATION DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1934 m E E 8 6 a 2a z w m 7 0 m z 2 N E I. .5. ME. w w 7 i f L \Fl... a E L A) \3 I 4 M J.wQ \m mmfi/ J fi 4 j J M 2 a v. v a z Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITEDSTATES FFIQE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to an observation device of the type enabling theoccupant of a room, apartment or house to scrutinize a person seekingadmission without in turn being observed by that person.

With the number of beggars and the salesmen of trivial and worthlessthings vastly increased by the present economic conditions and crimestill very prevalent, it is very undesirable and some- 10 timesdangerous for the occupant, particularly a woman, of a room, apartmentor house to open a door even but partially for the purpose of seeing whothe person seeking admission is.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide novel andimproved means for installation in a door or the like enabling sight inone direction but preventing sight in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is toperfect such a one-way observationdevice which may be economically manufactured and easily installed.

A further object is to perfect such a one-way observation device whichis compact so as to present a neat and ornamental appearance wheninstalled.

Yet another object is to provide an observation device of the characterdescribed which is camouflaged and even attracts the attention andinterest of the person seeking admission so that he will stand close tothe device.

Yet a further object is to provide a combined observation device andknocker.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an observation device embodying the featuresof the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of such an observation device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 1showing the device mounted in a door.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a slightly modified construction.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, it is shown and will hereinafter be describedin two embodiments but is not intended that the invention is therebylimited to the specific constructions disclosed but it is intended tocover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing an observation'device embodying features of the inventionis illustrated as mounted in a door In having a circular hole ll cuttherethrough. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 theobservation device comprises a metallic tubular member 12 extendingthrough the hole H. At the end projecting through the outer face of thedoor, the member I2 has integral therewith an annular flange l3extending radially outwardly for a substantial distance to form a plateconcealing the ragged edge 10 of the hole I l. The other end of themember I? is threaded to receive an annular plate i4 serving to impart afinished appearance to that end of the device and to clamp the tubularmember tightly in the door. The plate I G is preferably 15 also securedby screws I5.

Mounted in the member 12 is the means permitting sight in one directionbut preventing sight in the opposite direction. This means comprises adisk l6 of transparent material, prefer- 20 ably glass, coated on oneside with a thin layer ll of reflecting material such as mercury,silver, gold, etc. A glass so coated permits sight from a dark to alight area but when viewed from a light area presents the appearance ofa mirror. The glass disk I6 is mounted in the tubular member 12 with itscoated face toward the inside and is secured in the member between anannular shoulder I8 formed by an inward projection of the flange I3 anda split spring ring l9 received in a groove provided for that purpose inthe tubular member l2.

In order to prevent a person from inserting an object into the tubularmember and injuring the coating ll, a second glass disk 20 is mounted inthe member near the inner end thereof. This disk is secured in positionby a pair of split spring rings 2|. Preferably the disk 2|] is coloredor tinted some dark shade to darken the space between it and the disk l6and thereby prevent sight through the device from the exterior to theinterior while an occupant of the room is looking through the device.

In order positively to prevent sight through the device from theexterior to the interior, when the device is not being employed, a cover22 is preferably provided. This cover is formed with an ear 23 by meansof which it is pivoted on the upper one of the screws Hi to swing intoor away from a position closing the tubular member [2. 50 Preferably thecover is of such weight and is sufficiently loosely pivoted so asnormally to assume a position closing the tubular member.

Pivotally mounted on the annular flange I3 is a ring 24 which serves asa knocker for use by the 55 person seeking admission. This knocker, aswell as the flange [3, may be ornamented to present a finished andpleasing appearance. To prevent the ring 24 from being employed as alever for unscrewing the tubular member l2 from the annular plate M andthus removing the observation device, a nail 25 is driven through thetubular member and into the door l0.

In the modified construction as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, thetubular member is composed of two parts i2 and I2" secured together andclamped to the door by means of screws 26 extending through the annularplate Hi and threaded into studs 2? formed integral with the annularflange E3. The annular plate [4 in the modified form is formed integralwith the part 12 just as is the annular flange l3 and likewise extendsinwardly to form a shoulder 28 serving to secure the disk ill of glassand displacing one of the split spring rings TM. The shoulder 28 may, ifdesired, be extended inwardly a greater distance so as to make the rearopening'smaller than the front opening. It will be apparent from theforegoing description that by providing screws 26 of the proper length,the device may be mount ed on a door of any thickness.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have perfected aone-way observation de-' vice which may be conveniently installed andeconomically manufactured. When installed the device presents a neat andattractive appearance and enables unnoticed observation of personsseeking admission thereby providing a large address 5- a measure ofprotection against undesired intrusion. By the addition of a knocker andthe appearance of the device as a mirror to one observing the same fromthe outside, the device tends to attract the attention of the observerand causes him to stand near the same and thus enable an occupant of theroom to obtain a good view of the observer.-

I claim as my invention: 7

An observation device for use on doors or the like of rooms, apartmentsand houses comprising, in combination, a tubular member mounted in anaperture formed in the door and having integral therewith at its outerend an annular flange extending radially outwardly to form a plateconcealing the edge of the aperture and extending radially inwardly toform a shoulder, the other end of the tubular member being threaded, anannular plate secured onto the ed on opposite sides of the lastmentioned disk to secure the same in position.

CHARLES E. WHEELER.

